Implement for use in chemical apparatus



May 19, 1953 C. H. PRESCOTT, JR

IMPLEMENT FOR USE IN CHEMICAL APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1946 7Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Cl/A31. E: A. Pnasco 773/1;

ATTORNEY.

May 19, 1953 c. H. PRESCOTT, JR 2,639,074

IMPLEMENT FOR USE IN CHEMICAL APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1946 7Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLEJ' H PREJCOTL'J/t BY ATTORNEY.

y 9, 1953 c. H. PRESCOTT, JR 2,639,074

IMPLEMENT FOR USE IN CHEMICAL APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1946 7Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. .O/ARL EJ H PREJCO rp/r.

BY Z

ATTORNEY.

May 19, 1953 c. H. PRESCOTT, JR 7 IMPLEMENT FOR USE IN CHEMICALAPPARATUS Filed April 25, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Om RL 5 H PRESCO rzd/rBY Z 4 A] TOR NEY.

May 19, 1953 c. H. PRESCOTT, JR

" IMPLEMENT FOR USE IN CHEMICAL APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1946 7Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 5 CHA RL 5: H PREJCO 773/: 5 BY May 19, 1953 c.H. PRESCOTT, JR 2,539,074

IMPLEMENT FOR USE IN CHEMICAL APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1946 7Sheet-Sheet 6 LINE OFMOT/ON OF THE TELESCQP/NG JPOl/T INVENTOR. CHA /?LE: H PREJC'O rz dc ATTORNEY.

y 1953 c. H. PRESCOTT, JR 2,639,074

IMPLEMENT FOR USE IN CHEMICAL APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1946 '7Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. CHARLEJ H Pxaascorz J/r BY g l g 4 M- ATTORNEY.

Patented May 19, 1953 IMPLEMENT FOR USE IN CHEMICAL APPARATUS Charles H.Prescott, Jr., Berkeley, Calif., assignor tothe United States of Americaas represented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission ApplicationApril 25, 1946, Serial No. 664,956

9 Claims.

This-invention relates to apparatus for packaging, and especially toapparatus for closing, in the substantial absence of air, receptaclescontaining material that is rapidly decomposed or otherwise affecteddeleteriously when exposed to ordinary atmospheric conditions. Moreparticularly, it appertains to apparatus for the purification of, and tothe filling of receptacles with, a uranium chloride, and to apparatusfor hermetically sealing the filled receptacles under vacuum conditions.

There is a present need for large quantities of the uranium isotopehaving mass number 235. Uranium as obtained from natural sourcescomprises the aforementioned isotope mixed with two others having themass numbers 234 and 238,

in the ratio U 11 :U :120: :U :16,700,

ing the segregated ions to relatively high velocities; electromagneticmeans for deflecting the ions along curved paths, the radii of curvatureof the paths of the ions being proportional to the square roots of themasses of the ions, whereby the ions are concentrated in accordance withtheir masses; and means for de-ionizing and collecting the ions of theselected isotopes thus concentrated, thereby to produce a deposit of theelement enriched with the selected isotope;

' The device for supplying the vapor of a ma,

terial, such as a uranium compound, that is to be treated in a calutronin the aforementioned manner ordinarily comprises a heater with atubular chamber inwhich is set a vaporizing vessel or receptacle,commonly called a charge bottle, containing a charge of a uraniumcompound that volatilizes readily upon heating. Uranium hexachloride,which can be satisfactorily sublimed at about 100 C. under 10- mm.mercury vacuum, has been found to be especially suitable "for chargingthese devices. "tetrachloride, although normally less volatile than thehexachloride, is suitable for this pur- Likewise, uranium pose. However,both uranium tetrachloride and uranium hexachloride are hygroscopicand-de- 2 compose when exposed to ordinaryatmospheric conditions.

For example, when uranium hexachloride is loaded into a charge bottleunder ordinary atmospheric conditions, the uranium hexachlorideparticles usually become covered with a coating,

probably uranyl chloride (UOzClz). This coating impedes volatilization,thereby necessitating higher vaporizing temperatures which, in turn,induce decomposition of the charge to relativel less volatile uraniumcompounds.

Accordingly, particular care must be taken to exclude air when loadingthe charge material, such as one of the foregoing uranium chlorides,

into the charge bottle for use in the calutron.

One form of apparatus that has been devised for performing thereceptacle filling operation, in conjunction with apparatus forpreparing and/or purifying the uranium chloride to be charged, isdescribed and claimed in the copending application of Charles H.Prescott, Jr., Serial No. 552,556, filed September 2, 1944, now PatentNo. 2,574,842. However, while the apparatus disclosed in this copendingapplication is admirably adapted for its intended purpose, itisinherently incapable of charging the receptacles or charge bottleswith uranium chloride, or other material sensitive to atmosphericconditions, at a rate as high as could be desired. By the very nature ofthe apparatus, the receptacle charging and sealing operations areperformed successively upon 'a single receptacle or charge bottle, fromwhich it inherently follows that the apparatus is not of aparticularlyhigh capacity, in terms of receptacles charged and sealed per unit time.

Accordingly, the [present invention has for an object an improvedapparatus for the vacuum packaging of a hygroscopic material such' ashygroscopic uranium compounds. Other objects are to provide apparatuscapable of filling and sealing calutron charge bottles under vacuumconditions at a substantially-enhanced rate-to provide a satisfactoryapparatus for purifying and packaging uranium compounds under vacuum,and to seal hermetically vacuum containers charged with uraniumcompounds or other compounds of a hygroscopic nature, and at an enhancedrate. Other objects are the prevention of deterioration duringpreparation, purification, ackaging, storage, transportation, etc, ofuranium tetrachloride and uranium hexachloride while undergoingprocessing in apparatus of enhanced capacity. Further objects are theprovision of apparatus capable of permitting receptacle chargingoperations to be conducted-simultable of converting rectilinearmotionbubst'antally in the direction of the axis of the Wilson-sea; torectilinear motion at an angle the axis of the Wilson-seal. As usedherein the fXSZihSOQ- seal, is intended to refer generally to {the type.of

seal disclosed in Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 12 (1941),pages 91 to 93.

In accordance with this invention, apparatus has been devised forpackaging a volatile-Thymescopic substance, such certain uranium commaneemnrieinse e eneem e er ebe siee one of a number of containers with thes bstan e Wh e s mul aneo y li ra e se n an ther 1, the c nta ne s e 1 ehe 99' em itu be ng ,e ne ied W heui Pe i th lw res e ic e e enee feethe ae meephe e- Ar -ana m su t bl tor mee we se a n th h r seeei uranim" fi mpfluiid or La he s bstan with .a su n i ll h ne WQQ -llPu 192 mal p un t m ,e mprises, in netien a f imine' h mb s having e e neenemshembe e ee t her pu e ityo st a e i e i e e'e eiiit aeqime in e .e elenine' m i' w h QIW Q the ei i'e e re erit eles w e li i l schem ng ehemer whereb h me a i e niizeuiid is iib m d nto an een ne d i theeeeeneins" ehem er mean I m m t s mmed-end e ndenee e enlum e m e m t eco densi ch ber an fe peeeine i i the mee a the s wa eeen ee e -.e.

'1 -l l?l 9 l i, a plura i y o stora r a ae ee the lefi ne li d me ne inli e n a ar angeme ha n a r tatable i u t eemi ins e re ptae fi n s a in an e eie ep e i ee llne s ati n mean tel wr n e P f e e am led :re eiteel r ein ri efi ins eiei te th sea in e i n ie be tee led en 1 imulanevously, 1 no i ng a receptacle to the filling station t h le w h i h@atefie and mean 95 h rm t c y eali t filled i lei e le a a ux ar ie tre e he ven i n ther i a S P '.Qr-ide .e Wilso -se arr n eme hose a anan l x o. =ebr -ii hro i liiie passes ia u der in P IQ-QS m he Wsemeeemevinsa e etetin fed eh e-. e -V ture ,that movement of theoperating rod along the axi of the sea causes pr de ri nedipe tm oportion ,of ;the opera in ed "t mo substa -.tia ly .in as ai ht l n atthe afo em nt on d .langleto the ,Wilsomseal axis, andhence substan- -ta11y-1 n itudina11y with resp c t th ax 9 -V saldyconduit.

How the foregoing objects and ;r,e1ated ends venti n. and1th b s m deont mplatedfq ea tying out-.the same. Thedescriptionis amplified bvthea eoinpanyirie .d aw ngs.' in whi h:

fi u 1 t .asid ,e vat a view par y i sertio .of la ccpmbi edechar e uryin a d ireceptacie filling and sealin apparatus em od in rth mature Q hi ven ien his. 2 an e la sie ielevetiene ne n pur ed ma ri triagnfsnic dpartly in section, of a crushing device that communicates with thedischarge conduit of the condensing end of the charge purifyingapparatus;

Fig. 3 is a, plan sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: is a sectional elevational view taken along the line of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view of the ;charge filling portion ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 1, showing in greater detail the Wilsonsealarrangement which represents an auxiliary feature of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a viei showing a detail of the connect, ion-between theoperating end of the Wilsonseal rod and the manner in which it isconnected to a telescoping spout arrangement associated with thedischarge conduit;

" Fig.7 is "'a detail showing the shape of the end of thepperating rodof the Wilson-seal arrangement;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section; .o'f'lthecharge"sealingportio'n of the ppaatiis s ow i i 'i- .1; 9 isan'isometric view, partly in section, h win in greater detail immensi- Oassemb bf the 'e' e' tut-rammin the ee ta l ii i c an ceptacle s al sations: and

Figs; 1c, '11 and 12' are'idiagrams relating .to the mathematicaldevelopment of .the' urvatgr idr .theoperating rod comprising theWils'dn e'al'a'rrange rnent shown in detail inF-igl e er ng n wt E o thedr wi g-s, th is illustrated a ,ch'ar'ge pu riiy a parat s iridicatedgenerally by the reference numeral associ'ated with a sealing arr nement represented above. However, 'sinc'this portion of 'the apparatusforrns'no part of the presentclairzied invention, it'w'ill be desci'i'dlonly sufficient "detail as torender cleartheoperationofithejapparatjus as a whole, leaving {those interested to refer t theaforesaid Prescot pplicationl'for any further details thatniight 'bi iesiredl brief, the purifying apparatus is constructed a e y of glass andincludesa ho per u ji ilwhijch thelmatfiial to beplfbces'sedjis'disposed "p or'to starting the purifying ,op'eiijetion."Thisfhopper l l'isprovi'ded' with a conduit J 3 Ithrough which it is.fillecl iyvith' raw material, a it ib'ulaiextension l5 designed .to'receive a conventional Wilsonseal' 1,1, and a ductilgffor connectionitosuitable vacuumep qdu ine apparatus (n sh w ,A rem v b plus 21 fittihs itl l n thec'cnduu l3 seals thispart of ,theapp'eratus a ga instaccess.to the atmosphere;

e e e ia t b process d i in'. conventionalimar'iner.

.The ,hopper l j is connected .to a subliming delivered byfg'ravitywhenfrel e by the ate 2'3. 'rh'ei chamber}! hasiitwp {dew faridly weding delivery ducts or tubes ,33jaiid 135. ,The

Li Ik Red I 3??- A," in diameter. conventional Wilson-seal 63 in thetubular exten- 'priate manner in the sealin portion of the apparatus,indicated generally by the reference numeral 2, through the tube 35,while unsublimed material is discharged through the tube 33 to areceptacle 3'! connected thereto. The container 3| also has tubularextensions 39, 4| and 43 constituting portals for the devices thatmanipulate the materials being processed, and two ducts 45 and 41,located exteriorly of the path of the ma- -terial as it is processed,for connection to apparatus capable of producing a vacuum of the orderof at least 10- mm. Hg within the subliming chamber and zonescommunicating therewith.

Near its center the horizontally disposed container 3| has a sublimingzone proper which is surrounded by a furnace 49. This furnace mayconsist of two semi-cylindrical electrical resistance heaters capable ofraising the material being processed to its volatilization temperature.

The temperature commonly reached in subliming uranium hexachloride inthis apparatus is about 150 to 180 C., or even as high as 210 C. The

heaters have individual electrical connections 5| and 53 for connectionto a source of heating current. The heater sections are constructed in Isuch manner as to provide space for a thermocouple well 55. Thethermocouple therein (not shown) is connected by suitable conductors toan indicating and/ or recordin instrument, such as a potentiometer orvoltmeter (not shown), which may be suitably calibrated to indicateand/or record directly in terms of the temperature prevailing with thesubliming zone.

For moving material inside the vessel 3| at the feeder end, an implementcomprising a rod 51 carrying a chisel 59 and a hoe 6| is provided. To

insure adequate rigidity this rod should be about The rod 51 extendsthrough a a rod 91 carrying a chisel 69 and a scraper blade 1 I, therebypermitting the operator to scrape sublimate from the wall surface of thecontainer 3|,

. as well as to split the deposits away from the wall.

The rod 61 extends through an improved Wilson- 3 1 seal 13, and carriesexteriorly of the container 3| a hand wheel 15 by which the device ismanipulated. The improved Wilson-seal I3 is of a new design describednot only in the copending application of Charles H. Prescott, Jr.,referred to. above, but also in U. S. Patent 2,442,622 to Starr issuedJune 1, 1948. This Wilson-seal includes an arrangement havin a swiveljoint, thereby permitting more than the usual (12) deflection for therod 61, V The tubular extension 43 on top of the container 3| carries aconventional Wilson-seal 11 provided with an operating rod 19 having apointed and/or notched end 8| and, adjacent thereto,

a small hook 83 pointing in substantially the opposite direction. Thehand wheel 85 at the exterior end of the operating rod is utilized forimparting suitable movement to the device from without.

7 Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 9, and especially Fig. 2, thedischarge duct 35 from the container 3| is connected by means of a seal9| to an extension 93 which terminates in a restricted throat :portion95 and carries a flange 91. This flange portion 91 of the extension 93is attached in .6 gas-tight manner to a stainless steel housing 99 forthe crushing device |0| shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 9. Thehousing 99 is provided at its upper part with an inturned flange I03which cooperates with the flange 91 in forming the gas-tight sealpreviously mentioned. The upper portion of flange N13 is provided withtwo annular grooves I05 and I01 in each of which is disposed suitablepacking material for completing the'gas-tight seal. The two flanges areheld together by a series of fastening elements such as screws I96suitably spaced about the periphery of theflange 91. Lock washers I08may be provided to assist in maintaining a tight closure by the screws|06. v

'As shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 9, the housing" 99 is rectangularin cross-section, and

is provided with an aperture I09 in a side wall |3 by welding. The plate|2| is provided with an annular flange I23 by means of which the entirecrushing unit is secured in place within the housing 99. In order torender gas-tight the seal between the housing 99 and the crushing unitI, the inner surface of the flange I23 that engages the outer surface ofthe housing 99 is provided with an annular groove I25 carrying suitablepacking. material in a well-known manner. The flange I23 is secured tothe housing 99 by a series of fastening devices such as bolts |2|suitably spaced about the periphery of the flange I23.

The crushing elements proper of the device I 9 l, as shown more .clearlyin Figs. 3 and 4, comprise a pair of shafts |3| and |33 each of whichcarries a plurality of short, radially disposed rods I35 securedthereto, the outer ends of which are milled, turned and/or ground tosharp points and subsequently hardened in a conventional manner. Theseshort rods are suitably disposed about the shafts |3| and |33 atsuitable intervals, being spaced along the length of the shafts as wellas about theperiphery of each of the shafts, so that they act conjointlyupon lumps 0r granules of material passing through the casing I I3whereby such lumps or granules may be suitably reduced to apredetermined maximum size depending upon the arrangement of the shortrods I35 upon the shafts |3| and |33. In the particular arrangementshown for purposes of illustration. the

short pointed rods I35 comprise six pairs spaced more or lessequidistantly along the length of each of the shafts |3| and |33, eachsucceeding pair on a given shaft being displaced by an angle ofapproximately from the previous pair, the points of attachment for eachpair on one shaft being spaced similarly to the points of attachment foranother pair on the opposite shaft.

Care is taken when assembling shafts |3| and |33 |3| and |33 in suchmanner as to provide adequate clearance for the operating-rod 19 carry-(6.

ing hook thereby; permitting this rod readily momma '7 to pass throughand between the shafts i131 and 1-33 without mter-terence.

The shaft 131 -'-is journaled in :bearings III and I43 disposedrespectively in the plates I I9 and III. The shaft I38 isjour-naled atits innerend in a bearing M5 disposed in plate ALI-1!, while its outerend passes completely through the plate IZI, thereby permittingattachment to a crank I41 which permits manualnperationof thenrus'h ingdevice from without the apparatus, The shaft 1:33 thus constitutes adrive shaft- "The outer end of the shaft 4:33 that-passes through theplate 121 surrounded lava Wilsomseal M9 (see-Figs. 1, 2 and;9)which-mayhem conventional type, thereby permitting suitable operation{of the crushing unit -.I I without breaking the va .um oizta'mingwithin the entire apparatus. In order to transmit motion from th dr eshalt I 88 to the pthenshait I;3.I the shafts -,I 3| and 4'83 have.aflixed there o meshin sp g ars iii and I58, respectively. These gearsare enclosed within a suitablezgear housing I155 sealed .tothe innersurface of plate II 21, :thereby preventing particles of solid materialthat pass through the crushing unit Jrom ;-falling into and between themeshing gears and thereby interfering with the smooth operation thereof.

Referring now rtoEigs. l 5 and ,9, more particularly to thedetails-oithe apparatus shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. '5, thehousing13.9 .forthe crushin device I101 is secured ,ina ,suitame manner. such as .bywelding, to a plate III to which ;is attached the :rotary turret whichcomprises .one or more receptacle filling stations ES .andone or morereceptacle sealing stations .SS.

At the filling station vFS the plate I,8 I is provided with an aperture.I B3 which .is substantially concentrically arranged with respect tothe tubular portions 43, .35 .and .93 of the apparatus, as vwell as withrespect .to .thecentral vertical axis of the housing 89. Situated withinthe housing .99 is a .iunnel arrangement liipreiferably disposed withthe mouthof thefunnelisealedto theinterior of the housing 8.9. wherebyall mat rial passin -.through thehousin J89 from ,the crushing device 101 will be .caught thereby, and directed throug the nozzle .IBTI of .the,funnel. 'fIhe nozzle 1.61 i located substantially concentrically withrespect to the aperture Ii}, its and extending into the aperture butstoppin short of the lower 1.3. f the plate [81,, therebyaffordingianrple clearance v{or the rotary movement of -.c o,operatingparts presently to be described.

Below the plate I61. and attached tthereto in such manner as to readilypermit it to rotate aboutitsaxis, is a circular plate I1 I constitutingarotary turret provided with correspondingaper- .tures .for alignmentwiththe aperturesfin th lip- .per plate IBI defining receptacle fillingstations and receptable sealing stations. For this purpose theplate I'IIis mounted in apositionfifiQId- .ing readyrotationthereof by means oftheaxia'lly locatedshaft J13, which for convenience maytaik the form ofalarge hex-headfianscrew. This screw passes through centrally :locatedj'holes in the plates I81 and till, andisiheld securely in posltionby apair of cooperating nuts ,IIS whereby it may be lockedagainstaccidental' loosening. Washers Ill-anditIB areaypartof-thissupporting arrangement aswell as'arball-bearing member I8 Iwhich acts as a thrust hearing for the assembly. and permits easyrotation of the plate I-l-I when and as desired. In order to provideadequately "for lubrication between the engagingsurfaces of 'thecooperating eplates I=$I and H- I ==as twell as :to assist inmaintaining substantially vacuum-tight conditions within the portions ofthe .assodahd apparatus that contain material sensitive to atmosphericconditions, .a :pair of annular grease rings I83 and 1185 (see Fig. 9)concentric withihe axis .of rotation of the plate zIli, are provided inthe lower surface of-plate .161. .Inorderitoauw y grease .or otherlubricant to these grease rings when and as desired, a pair of manuallyoperabl rease injectors 18-! and 1:88am provid d. Iii-will be apparentfrom inspection of Figs. 1 and 9 that the annular grease rooves 1.8.3and .85 a so disposed with respect to the plates IGI and I-1,I t t t eoperat e po tions of the ap a tus in which vacuum conditions are to bemaintained lie h tw e th e grease g ooves. t e y substantiallypreventing leakageof ail-into the vac- .uum portion of the system.

Referring again more particularly to 5, the lower rotating plate I1I,proyi ded with an aperture vIll! so positioned and of such ,a. sizethat when the lower'plate III is properly positioned with respect to the.upperplate ISI, aperture Isl registers with aperture I63 plate therebypermitting material undergoing treatmentto pass from the housing 89entirely through the registering apertures in the plates .IBI and ILI ina manner to be described more fully hereinaiiter. The lower faceof theplate I.II is ,provided with a vcounterloore I83 concentric with theaperture I-ElI, the diameter .of .the counter here being slightly inexcess of the {outer diameter of the charge bottles .or receptacles tobe filled during operationof the apparatus. The bottom and side wall ofthe counterbor e are thus well adapted to receive and maintain in,proper position the open mouth of the receptacle .or charge bottle tobe filled.

.Inorder to hold the receptacle or charge bottle at the filling stationFS, any convenient clamp- ,ingarrangeinent may beprovided. For example,.four or more rods I35, threaded .at each .end. may be arrangedconcentrically withrespect ,to theaperture 15.! in the lower .plateI'll. These rods are threaded into tapped holes suitablyprovided in thelower .faceof the plate IJLandare slightly longer than the overalllength of the receptacles or charge bottles .to .be filled. In order tohold thereceptaclesorcharge bottles seem-eh! in place, there is provideda circular plate I91 of a diameter,slightly'largcr than the diameter ofthe circle in the circumference of whichare P sitioned t e apped holesint whi h ar threaded :the .rods 1,9,5. this plate being drilled oprovidea corresponding arrangement of holes of a diameter slightlylarger than the diameter of the rods I95. This plate v IEl'I maybeheldin place against the bottom .or closed end of the receptacles orcharge bottles .bya seriesof wing .nuts 18.9, thus assuring the properpositioning. of the receptacles or charge bottles at the .fillingstation.

The receptaole-or charge bottleilll is circular incross section and hasa. circu1ar opening .293 .inthe top defining its mouth or,,charging.

Surrounding the month 293 is an annular groove .255 designed to receivethe dependin skirt or flange 20;"! of thecappr closure 209 Kse ,Fig. 3for the construction-of the cap) and an annular groove 2II adapted tocontain p3gqking 21% for maintaining vacu11m tight; copditions. Ordinary the mouth .203 an ro es 10.5 and :2.'Il:are;10c.at .d n instep-surfaceair-the bottle and concentri ally wi h re n c t zits fJBreferably, themeceptasles .nr .gcharge bot e and then-cap ar made ofstainless.-:ste.el, foruample, 18-8 (l8-Cr, 8-.Ni; USS-No, 316) stock,but other metals. notreadily. attacked by the vapors of uranium halides,or by vapors of such other materials as are being processed, may be usedif desired. In order to assist in providing a soldered, gas-tight jointbetween the cap and the bottle, the groove 285 is preferably coated orplated with a metal easily wet by a low melt ing alloy, for example,Woods metal, the latter being particularly well adapted for soldering orsecuring the cap in position once the filling operation has beenperformed. The plating (which for example may comprise a noble metalsuch as silver, gold, etc.) is not shown for the sake of simplicity.These and other details relating to one preferred form of. receptacle orcharge bottle which is particularly well adapted for use with thepresent apparatus areset forth more fully in the copending applicationof Charles H. Prescott, Jr., Serial No. 5,552,556, referred to above,and accordingly nofurther detailsneed be given here.

Since, as is readily apparent from Fig. 5, there is necessarily anappreciable distance between the end of the delivery nozzle Isl of thefunnel I65 which directly receives the subdivided material from thecrushing device t! and the mouth of the receptacle 20! to be filled, andsince any small particles of solid material that might be accidentallydeflected to the top of the bottle, and particularly into the groove 205thereof, might seriously interfere withthe effective sealing thereofagainst atmospheric influences, there is provided a telescoping spoutarrangement 22! that may be formed of glass or other suitable materialnot adversely affected by the material undergoing treatment. This spout22!, as shown in greater detail in Fig. 6, comprises an upper annular.flange 223 and an annularshoulder 225 located approximately two-thirdsof'the distance from the top toward the bottom thereof. The annularshoulder 225 is adapted to rest upon the top of the charge bottle 20!,the general dimenslons and arrangement of the telescoping spout 22!being such that, as the shoulder 225 rests in the position mentioned,the upperportion thereof surrounds the lower end of the delivery nozzleI51, while the lower end of the spout 22! opens into the mouth 203 ofthe receptacle or charge bottle 20!. Accordingly it will be apparentthat without permitting any of the material to'be deflected out of thedesired path.

When the telescoping spout .22! is in the receptacle filling position atthe filling station, as shown in Fig. 5, it will be noted that it isimpossible to rotate the lower plate lll. Consequently, in order toretract the telescoping spout out of the way, thereby affordingsuiiicient clearance for rotation of the plate I! I, the present invention contemplates as a sub-feature thereof a novel arrangement foreffecting this operation. Thi arrangement comprises a pair of pins 22!(see Fig. 6) projecting laterally a short distance from the intermediateportion of the telescoping spout 22 between the flange 223 and theshou1- der 225. An operating rod 229 for lifting the spout 22! is alsoprovided, this rod ending in two branches or forks 23! (see Fig. 7) eachprovided with a hook 233 for engaging the lifting pins 221.

In. order to actuate this operating rod 229 from without the apparatus,thereby avoiding impair- 10 ment of the vacuum conditions obtainingwithin the apparatus, the operating rod 229 passes through a Wilson-sealarrangement 235 which per se may be of conventional construction, andthe details of which therefore need not be further described. ThisWilson-seal is located at the end of a side housing 23'! that branchesoff at an angle from the housing 99. It will be apparent by inspectionof Figs. 1, 5 and 9 that, in order to cause thedesired movement of thetelescoping spout 22 up and down in the direction of the axis of thehousing 99, it is not possible to use an ordinary straight Wilson-sealoperating rod, since the operating rod 229, which can only be moved backand forth more or less longitudinally with respect to the Wilson-seal235-, is disposed in the housing 23'! at an angle to the axis of thehousing 99. It is therefore a sub-feature of the present invention toprovide an operating rod 229 for a Wilson-seal of otherwise conventionaldesign, so shaped that movement of the operating rod in a directionsubstantially longitudinally of the axis of the Wilson-seal will causedisplacement of a, predetermined point on the operating rod in asubstantially straight line at an angle to the axis of the Wilson-seal.It has been discovered that an operating rod capable of functioning inthis manner must conform in curvature to a rather complicatedmathematical formula,'and for the sake of continuity the development ofthis formula will be left for a later portion of this description, itbeing sufficient here to state merely that the operating rod 229 (ormore strictly speaking, the portion thereof which, during operation ofthe device, passes through the sealing elements proper of theWilson-seal) must be shaped so as to conform substantially to the curvecorresponding to an equation to be derived hereinafter.

With a Wilson-seal mechanism provided with an operating rod229 shaped inthe manner mentioned, motion applied in a direction more or lesslongitudinally of the axis of the Wilson-seal is converted atapredetermined point along the operating rod into straight line motion ata predetermined angle to the axis of the Wilson-seal, the constructionand arrangement in this case being such that the said predeterminedpoint of the operating rod corresponds to the point oflatter.

Referring now to the portion of the apparatus arrangement comprising thesealing station SS for hermetically sealing the receptacles or chargebottles 20! after they have been filled to the desired extent with thematerial undergoing processing, as shown generally in Figs. 1 and 9 (andin greater detail in Fig. 8) the sealing station comprises a housing25!, preferably formed of glass in order to permit visual inspection ofthe manipulations that are carried out therein. This housing is securedto the fixed top plate I6! of the apparatus in any desirable manner, forinstance by the use of a suitable sealing material suchas De Khotinskycement 253 applied to thejoint between the housing and the plate,thereby making a gas-tight joint. There are formed in the plates !6! and!1! a pair of corresponding aligned apertures 255 and 251, respectively,the axis of each of which lies the same distance from the axis of thecentral supporting shaft I13 as does the aXis of each of the apertures!83 and !9! in the plates Hi! and !1! at the filling station FS (Fig.5). By virtue of this arrangement it follows that, as the lower plate!1! is rotated, the receptacles or charge bottles 20! supported againstthe lower surface of the plate I1!, and so positioned that their mouthsare in alignment with the corresponding apertures in the plate, may bebrought at will into registering position with the passageways definedby the apertures !63 and !9! at the filling station FS, and by theapertures 255 and 251 at the sealing station As shown in Figs. 3 and 9,the aligned apertures 255 and 251, while they are located the samedistance from the central supporting member H3 as are the apertures E63and IQI, are displaced somewhat from the axis of the housing 25!, thisdisplacement being somewhat in excess of half the diameter of theapertures. This displacement from the axis of the housing 25! of theapertures 255 and 251 permits carrying out within the housing certainmanipulations necessary to the sealing operation, as described morefully hereinafter.

The receptacles or charge bottles 2!!! are supported in a vacuum tightmanner against the under side of the rotary plate !1! in the same manneras that already described in connection with the filling stationarrangement, and hence for the sake of brevity the structural details ofthe supporting arrangement need not be further described.

In order to carry out the sealing operation while maintaining theapparatus under the de sired conditions of vacuum, the housing 25: isprovided with a conduit 26! (Figs. 1 and 9) communicating with a vacuumproducing device (not shown) of sufiicient capacity to produce andmaintain the desired vacuum therein. The up per end of the housing 25!comprises a tubular extension 263 into which there is inserted a Wilson-seal 265 that may be conventional in arrangement and operation. ThisWilson-seal is provided with an operating rod 281 that passes throughthe seal, the outer end terminating in a threaded portion to which isattached a hand wheel 269 to enable the device to be operated fromwithout the apparatus. The operating rod within the housing 25! isprovided with an offset portion 21! that terminates in a hook 213 adapted to engage an eyelet 215 that is securely at tached to the structureof the receptacle cap or closure 209 previously referred to.

The cap 209 is provided with an electric heating element 211 detachablysecured thereto by means of a screw fastener 21!], the heating elementcomprising an electric resistance such as Nichrome wire 28! suitablyembedded in a refractory and electrically insulating material and havingone end grounded to the closure 209 and hence to the apparatus proper byvirtue of the fact that the receptacle or charge bottle 20! isfabricated of a suitable metal such as stainless steel while theclamping arrangement that secures the receptacle to the rotary plate !1!likewise is fabricated of metal. The other end of the resistance 28! isconnected to the eylet 215, which thus becomes a terminal post of theheating element. The circuit for the heating element is 12completed'thr'o'ugh the metal'hook 213, the operating rod261 and anysuitable external circuit such as that shown for illustrative purposesin Fig. 1. Thus as there shown, two metal contactor's 29! and 293 aresecured to the operating rod 261 and to one of the metal supporting legs295, respectively, the latter being connected by suitable conductors 291and 299 to a battery or other current source 30!, a suitable switch 303being provided to energize and tie-energize the heating circuit at will.

Since the particular method of hermetically sealing the receptacleclosure 20! to the filled rcceptacle 20! forms no part of the presentinvention, it need not be described at this point other than to statethat the heat generated by operation of the electric heating element 28!melts the Woods metal (or other soldering material) that previously hasbeen placed in the groove 235 of the receptacle 20!, and which W ood'smetal, upon cooling after de'energlzing the heating circuit, solidifiesand forms the desired seal between the receptacle and its closure. Forfurther specific details of the structure and operation of the sealingarrangement for the individual receptacles or charge bottles, referencemay be had to the prior copending application, Serial No. 552,556,referred to above.

It will be noted from Fig. 8 that the offset portion 21! of theoperating rod 261 permits of the necessary manipulation of thereceptacle closures 209 away from and into sealing position as desired.The operations of removing the sealed filled receptacles, and ofreplacing the scaled receptacles so removed with fresh empty receptaclesto be filled are readily performed at the sealing station; it being onlynecessary, before clamping in place at the sealing station a fresh emptyreceptacle to be filled subsequently at the filling station, to takecare to suspend from the hook 213 a new closure 209, properly pretreatedfor the subsequent sealing operation. The op-' crating rod 261 may beactuated in such manner as to rest the closure 203 upon the uppersurface of the plate !6! located within the housing 25!, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 8. Thereafter, having clamped in place an emptyreceptacle to be filled, and having operated the vacuum producing devicecommunicating with the interior of the housing 25! for a suflicientperiod of time to bring the pressure obtaining within the housing downto the desired value, the sealing station SS is ready to receive afreshly filled receptacle from the filling station whenever the fillingoperation has been completed, this being brought about simply bysuitably rotating the plate I1!.

The apparatus as a whole may be supported in large part at least by aplurality of legs 295 (see Figs. 1 and 9) which are suitably attached tothe top plate I! near its corners.

The rotation of the plate !1! to which are sccured in a vacuum tightmanner the several rcceptacles 20!both those filled and ready to bcsealed as well as those empty and ready to be fi1ledmay be brought aboutin any convenient manner. For example, there may be provided a series ofrods 30! (Figs. 1 and 5) one end of each of which is threaded intotapped holes located in the lower surface of the rotary plate 1! nearthe periphery thereof, so that by grasping these rods 30! the lowerplate may be rotated manually in a convenient manner when and asdesired.

In order to locate automatically the proper points at which to stop therotation of the plate or turret lll during"operation ofthe device, aswell as to assist in holding the plate'l'll in the proper position atwhich the apertures I63 and IS! on the one hand, and apertures .255 and251 on the other hand, are maintained in substantial alignment, there isprovided a positioning device 303 (Figs. and 9) which suitably may takethe form of a latch mechanism. As shown in detail in Fig. 5, this latchmechanism includes a latch block 305 secured to the under side of thetop fixed plate ii, and spaced Slightly from the outer periphery of therotary plate orturret I'll. The block 305 is drilled and counterbored toreceive a positioning pin 301 having a slightly enlarged head 309 whichis urged toward the bottom of the counterbore .by a spring 3| I, thisspring being maintained under compression by a headless set screw 3l3that engages and is held in place in a threaded portion of thecounterbore of the block 305. Accordingly the inner end of the pin 30'!is caused to project beyond the block 305 toward the axis of rotation ofthe rotary plate I'll. At predetermined intervals about the periphery ofthe rotary plate Ill there are provided a plurality of V-shaped notches3| 5 into which the end of the pin 3.01, which end may be suitablytapered or pointed, is urged by the action of the compression spring 3as the plate I'll is caused to rotate. In this manner, as the plate orturret I'll rotates, the end of the pin 301 is forced into one of theV-shaped notches 3l5 corresponding to a point during the rotation atwhich the apertures in the plates NH and H1, at both the filling stationor stations as well as at the sealing station or stations, come intosubstantial alignment. Furthermore, due to 'the force exerted by thecompression spring 3| I hearing against the head of the pin 301, anyundesirable tendency of the plate I'll to rotate slightly out of theproper predetermined position during the filling and/or sealingoperations is greatly minimized, if indeed not entirely eliminated.

It will be understood that any' other desired latching device may beemployed in place of the particular arrangement shown for illustrativepurposes.

Returnin to the considerations which overn the shape'of the operatingrod 229 that passes through the Wilson-seal 235 (see Fig. 5) in orderthat, upon suitable manipulation of the operating rod in a directionsubstantially longitudinal of the axis of the Wilson-seal, a predetermined point of the operating rod shall move in a substantially straightline lying at a predetermined angle to the axis ofthe Wilson-seal,reference may be had to Figs. 10, l1 and 12.

Fig. 10 shows schematically the general arrangement of the Wilson-sealand its operating rod. The curved operating rod 229 is always tangent tothe axis of the Wilson-seal and the free end 22'! (which is to beregarded as a predetermined point of attachment to the telescoping spout22l-see Fig. 5) moves substantially in a vertical straight line when therod 229 is operated from without in the usual manner. The angle isdefined as the angle between the vertical and the outward directionfi.e., the axis) of the Wilson-seal, and of course has a fixedpredetermined value for any given apparatus arrangement. "For greaterease of mathematical treatment, these conditions may be referred to aframe of reference in which the operating rod 229 is as-' sumed to befixed, and the point of attachment 221 is taken as the origin. Theconditions .de-

fining the curvature'of theoperating rod are then that a tangent to thecurve makes, at its point of tangency, the angle with a, line whichpasses at a distance L from the origin, i. e., which latter line is alsotangent to acircle of radius L about the origin.

This second construction is also shown in Fig. 11, which indicatesschematically in somewhat greater detail the mathematical relationshipexisting between the operating rod 229 and the vertical line of motionof the telescoping spout 22I, particularly as regards the point ofattachment thereto. For the sake of greater clarity, only those partsare shown which are necessary to an understanding of the configurationof the operating rod; thus the telescoping spout 22l, shown in dottedlines, is attached to the operating rod 223 by means of the pins221'(Fig.'6), the reference numeral 221 being employed in Fig. 11,however, to indicate the position of the pins in the geometry of thesystem rather than by wayof designation of thepins themselves. Theoperating'rod 229-passes through the Wilsonseal 235 likewise shown indotted lines;

Referring again to Fig, 11, AT is the axis of the Wilson-seal which, inits operating position, makes the predetermined angle b with thevertical. P isthe point of tangency between the curve representing theoperating rod 229 and'the axis of the Wilson-seal. L is thepredetermined horizontal distance by which the point of tangency P isdisplaced from the origin 0; in other words a circle with its center atthe origin 0, andof radius L, istangent to the vertical line CD passingthrough the point of tangency P. Considering further thepoint Pu thelocus of which constitutes the desired curve, it will be apparent fromFig. 11 that, in polar coordinates:

For purposes of integration,'the variables of (1) may be readilyseparated and the equation reduced to the following simplified form:

Hence,

The right hand member of (3) may be readily integrated by standardmethods of the integral calculus,- the details of which need not be setforth at this point in the interests of brevity, to give the followingequation for in terms of r (it being recalled that L and w are constantsthe values of which are dependent only upon the predetermined geometryof the general apparatus arrangement) 6=c0s" %w log (wL-l /1--L +0 (4)The constant of integration, C, in (4) is readily eliminated, and theequation incidentally further simplified, by letting 0:0 at the pointwhere r L (i. e., at the point B in Fig. 11), which is equivalent tomaking OB the polar axis with respect to the desired curve. Substitutingthese last-mew tioned values in (4) there is obtained:

0:10 log L (5) .f z 6=cos 2-10 log (1+ (6) The foregoing result, asexemplified by (6), may be checked by simple differentiation therebyresulting in (2).

In Fig. 12 are plotted several of the desired curves for differentvalues of the predetermined angle g5. When 4) equals 0 the curve reducesto a vertical straight line.

It will be noted that for values of 1 less than L, the correspondingvalues of 0 are expressible as functions of complex variables and hencebecome only of mathematical interest.

For present purposes the curve as plotted for corresponding Values of 0andr when rf) is taken as is admirably adapted for use. It may be notedin passing that the operating rod 229 need not conform to the givencurve except in the section thereof which is to slide through theWilson-seal.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided an apparatus capableof achieving the objects of the present invention, namely, an apparatusfor packaging and closing in substantial absence of air receptaclescontaining material that is readily and rapidly decomposed or otherwiseafiected deleteriously when exposed to ordinary atmospheric conditions,and including an improved Wilson-seal arrangement for converting motionsubstantially along the axis of the Wilson-seal to rectilinear motion ata predetermnied angle to the axis of the Wilson seal.

Probably many apparently widely difierent embodiments of this inventionmay be made without departing from the principle, breadth and spiritthereof-and it is to be understood, therefore, that this invention isnot limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as encompassed inthe following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for filling receptacles with a material that tends todecompose upon contact with ordinary atmospheric air, and forhermetically sealing the receptacles so filled, the combination of: apair of relatively rotatable, superposed plates having alignedapertures'defining a receptacle filling station and spacially disposedapertures in alignment defining a. receptacle sealing station, means forintroducing the mate- 16 rial into a receptacle positioned at thefilling stotion, means for simultaneously sealing hermetically anotherreceptacle positioned at the sealing station and previously filled witha desired quantity of the material, and means for movinE the freshlyfilled receptacle from the filling station to the sealing station andfor moving an empty receptacle to be filled to the filling station.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 including a pair of radially spaced, circulargrease rings disposed about the axis of rotation of said plates forhermetically sealing the space between the latter and bounded by saidrings.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 including means for removably securing to therotating portion of the turret the receptacles while being filled andsealed.

4. Apparatus for filling receptacles with a solid material that tends todeteriorate upon contact with moisture, and for hermetically sealing thereceptacles so filled, comprising a turret arrangement having a fixedhorizontally disposed upper plate cooperating with a rotatably mountedhorizontally disposed lower plate, each of said plates being providedwith a plurality of apertures arranged equidistantly from the axis ofrotation of the lower plate and in such manner that the apertures in theupper plate are adapted to register with the apertures in the lowerplate, thereby providing at least one receptacle filling station and atleast one receptacle sealing station, means for detachably securingreceptaclesto the underside of the lower plate in a gastight manner andwith the mouths of the receptacles in substantial alignment with therespective apertures in the lower plate, a housing secured in a gastightmanner to the upper plate and in substantial alignment with one of theapertures in the upper plate for introducing solid material through theregistering apertures of the two plates into a receptacle positioned ata receptacle filling station, and means secured in a gastight manner tothe upper fixed plate and in substantial alignment with another of theapertures in the upper plate for simultaneously sealing hermetically apreviously filled receptacle positioned at a receptacle sealing station.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 including a feed conduit for introducing thesolid material into the receptacle positioned at the receptacle fillingstation, a spout telescopically surrounding the lower portion of saidconduit and extending downwardly through said registering apertures andinto the receptacle to be filled, a hermetic seal disposed adjacent aside wall of said housing and an operating rod extending through saidseal into the interior of said housing and attached to the telescopingspout in order at the conclusion of the filling operation to lift thelower end of the telescoping spout at least sufilciently to clear thelower rotatably mounted plate of the turret arrangement.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4 including means associated with at least oneof the plates of the turret arrangement for effecting a gastight sealbetween the plates.

'7. Apparatus as in claim 4 including means associated with at least oneof the plates of the turret arrangement for effecting a gastig'ht sealbetween the plates, said gastight sealing means comprising a pluralityof annular grooves tor lubricant formed in at least one of the opposingsurfaces of the plates comprising the turret arrangement and locatedsubstantially concentricslly with respect to the axis of rotation of therotatably mounted lower plate, the annular grooves also being located insuch manner that an inner one lies entirely within, and an outer onelies entirely without, the aforesaid plurality of apertures that aredisposed in the upper and lower plates respectively, and means forintroducing lubricant into said annular grooves.

8. Apparatus as in claim 4 including a vertically positioned centralshaft located at the axis of rotation of the rotatably mounted lowerplate and passing through both the upper plate and the lower plate forsecuring the plates in assembled relation, and a bearing memberassociated with the central shaft to assist in supporting the rotatablymounted lower plate and to facilitate rotation thereof during operationof the apparatus.

9. Apparatus as in claim 4 including means for positioning the rotatablymounted lower plate in such manner as to insure substantiallyregistering relation between corresponding apertures in the upper plateand the lower plate respectively,

18 for securing the rotatably mounted lower plate in such position whilethe filling and sealing operations are being carried out.

CHARLES H. PRESCOTT, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 283,313 Wiltse Aug. 14, 1883 372,876 Stickney, II Nov. 8, 18871,017,663 Fraser Feb. 20, 1912 1,336,030 Gammeter Apr. 6, 1920 1,409,211Anderson et a1. Mar. 14, 1922 1,607,269 Malmquist Nov. 16, 19262,162,464 Soderberg -1- June 13, 1939 2,341,498 Bell Feb. 8, 19442,477,406 Church July 26, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date577,685 France June 11, 1924

